
Sometimes think and have are used in progressive tenses.
COMPARE:
I think that grammar is easy. ---- When think means believe, it is nonprogressive
I am thinking about grammar right now ----- When think expresses thoughts that are
going through a person’s mind, it can be progressive.
Tom has a car ---- When have expresses possession, it is not used in the present
progressive.
I’m having a good time. ---- In certain idiomatic expressions (e.g., have a good time),
have can be used in the present progressive.
EXERCISE: Complete the sentences with the words in parentheses. Use the
SIMPLE PRESENT or the PRESENT PROGRESSIVE.
1. Right now Yoko (read) _____is reading______ an article in the newspaper,
but she (understand, not) ___doesn’t understand____ it. Some of the
vocabulary (be) ___is___ too difficult for her
2. Right now I (look) ________________________ at the board. I (see)
____________________ some words on the board
3. I (need) ________________________ to call my parents today and tell them
about my new apartment. They can’t call me because they (know, not)
_______________________ my new telephone number
4. This tea is good. I (like) ____________________ it. What kind is it? I (prefer)
_______________________ tea to coffee. How about you?
5. Right now the children (be) ______________________ at the beach. They
(have) ______________________ a beach ball, and they (play)
____________________ catch with it. They (like) __________________ to
play catch. Their parents (sunbathe) _______________________. They (try)
___________________ to get a tan. They (listen)
_______________________________ to some music on a transistor radio.
They also (hear) _______________________ the sound of sea gulls and the
sound of the waves.